Great Outdoors

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Win a $25 Gift Certificate! Read more below!

2010 BIG FISH CONTEST at
D & R Sports Center

D & R Sports Center's Big Fish Contest begins Saturday, April 24th and runs through Sunday, August 29th.

Rules:

• There is NO entry fee!
• Anglers 17 years old and up must have a valid fishing license
• All entries must be caught within 50 miles of Kalamazoo
• NO PRIVATE POND or PRIVATE LAKE entries allowed
• NO FROZEN FISH will be accepted
• Anglers may enter a total of three (3) fish per day for the contest
• Fish that are still alive or on ice can be entered

Fourteen different species of fish may be entered in the contest:

• Rainbow trout/steelhead
• Brown troutv
• Brook trout
• Lake trout
• Salmon
• Catfish
• Crappie
• Bluegill/sunfish
• Largemouth bass
• Smallmouth bass
• Perch
• Walleye
• Musky
• Northern pike

The hot weather is driving most of the panfish into deeper water. Angles slow trolling for crappies out on Portage Lake and Little Sugar Loaf have been very productive. Try Slider Grubs, Yozuri Aile Gobies and Beetle Spins.

Bluegills can be found in 15 to 24 feet of water on many lakes. Cedar Lake has been good just before dark. Some lakes with good bluegill action have been: Finch Lake, Wall Lake, Lake Cora, Three Lakes, Corey Lake, Huzzy Lake and Duck Lake. Leaf worms, wax worms and red worms are landing some 9 to 10 inch gills. Crickets are also beginning to work well.

Bass anglers are doing well in the morning as well as in the evening. Good lakes have been: Sunset Lake, Great Bear Lake, Scott Lake, Gun Lake and West Lake. Two five pounders were weighed in this week from Sunset Lake. One was caught on a minnow, and the other hit a Rapala X-Rap. Top baits this week have been: Jitter Bugs, Swim Baits, Buzz Baits, Pig and Jig, Flash Crank Baits and Zoom Finesse Worms. Pike fishermen have reported getting some action out on Twin Lakes, Gull Lake and Long Lake. Anglers seem to be doing the same as last week. Use Shiner Minnows, Bomber Long A's, Spinner Baits or Deep Diving Bandit Crank Baits. The Kalamazoo River is a good spot to catch catfish and smallmouth bass. Minnows, Hot N Tots, Walleye Divers and Crawler Harnesses are taking smallies up to 4 pounds. The catfish are hitting minnows and cut bait.

Lake Michigan has warmed up to the high 70's. Salmon fishing has slowed down a little since last week. Anglers have reported getting some lake trout bouncing off the bottom. The best depths have been 100 to 160 feet of water. There has been two 10 pound brown trout caught out of South Haven this week. Trolling flies are beginning to work more and more. Good colors have been: Pickled Monkey, Blue Mirage, Blue Bubbler and Orange Crush.

Perch Fishing out of South Haven and St. Joe is good and can be found in different depths. Some anglers have been in 24 feet while others are finding perch in 30 to 45 feet of water. The perch are running from 8 to 14 inches, and have been hitting on minnows or wigglers.

Upcoming Events:

Southern Michigan Gun Club : Every Sunday 5-8pm Open Shooting at the Range. CPL classes available, call 269-903-7705 to register!

Fishing Tournament 2010 Schedule
Thursday evenings 6:00pm-9:00pm

June 3, 2010 Barton Lake
June 10, 2010 Austin Lake
June 17, 2010 Portage Lake
June 24, 2010 Long Lake
July 1, 2010 Sugar Loaf
July 8, 2010 Portage Lake
July 15, 2010 Austin Lake
July 22, 2010 Barton Lake
July 29, 2010 Long Lake
August 5, 2010 Sugar Loaf
August 12, 2010 Austin Lake
August 18, 2010 Barton Lake
Classic TBA

Cost is $40.00 per boat per event.
Contact: Chad Harmon 269-496-7379 or Dani Kinder 269-649-9676